One of the destinations in “From heaven to your heart” is a manger. Over the years, hymn writers and artists have portrayed Jesus’ manger in Bethlehem as being almost glamorous. As a result, we sing “Away in a Manger,” and it can resemble a lullaby. We set up a nativity scene and remark how cute the baby looks, nestled in a primitive crib.

But let’s not forget what a manger is. It’s a feeding trough for animals. It’s crude, rustic, and smelly.

A manger is not where you would expect to see the newborn Son of God in human flesh, but Jesus lying in that humble crib demonstrates the unexpected, condescending love of our Savior.

A hymn by the 17th-century German Lutheran pastor Paul Gerhardt informs us of another manger for Jesus. Gerhardt wrote “I Stand beside Your Manger Here,” a 15-stanza hymn that Christian Worship downsized to 4 stanzas. His 14th stanza (the 4th in Christian Worship) offers this plea to the Lord: “So let my heart your manger be; come, holy Child, lie down in me with all your joyful treasures” (Christian Worship 334:4).

Your heart—another manger for Jesus! Like the manger in Bethlehem, your heart and mine hold someone precious.

But that was not always the case, was it?

Prior to Jesus’ birth, the manger in Bethlehem was simply a feeding box for animals. Who knows how many times workers filled it up with food and hungry animals emptied it with their mouths? But on that glorious night when angels lit up the Judean sky, the manger became a bed for the promised Messiah.

Prior to our conversion, our hearts were entirely allies of Satan. There was no love for God in them; selfishness ruled the day. But now consider the consequence of the Spirit’s work in our lives: Our hearts are manger-thrones for the Son of God to reign supreme. It is now his peace that rules in our hearts (Colossians 3:15), the peace that he restored between a holy God and sinful people by his holy life and sacrificial death.

We know that the manger in Bethlehem cradled baby Jesus for a night, but for how many nights after that? When did the holy family move on to other accommodations? When did the manger return to its former use of serving only animals? We don’t know.

How long will our hearts be mangers for the Lord? We want that situation to be lifelong—and beyond, forever—don’t we? That is why we pray to the Lord with the hymn writer, “So let my heart your manger be; come, holy Child, lie down in me.”

Jesus lies down in us when he dwells within us. And he dwells within us when we are connected to him through faith. What an encouragement, then, to immerse ourselves in Scripture—so Jesus can lie down in our manger-hearts! What an encouragement to be frequent guests at the Lord’s Supper—so Jesus can lie down in the mangers within us!

When Jesus lies down in us, he is not empty-handed. No, in the words of the hymn, he possesses “joyful treasures.” The holy Child who received valuable treasures from the Magi gives you and me spiritual treasures beyond measure: the riches of the forgiveness of sins and the wealth of heaven. Our mangers overflow with the goodness of God.

Sad to say, Christmas songs will soon fade, and nativity sets will be taken down and stored for another year. Those reminders of Bethlehem’s manger will be out of sight. And yet, keep in mind that the manger in your heart and mine is not seasonal. By God’s grace, it will always be there.

Author: James Pope
Volume 111, Number 12
Issue: December 2024